CHILD’S DEATH IN RESERVOIR

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27303, 20 March 1954, Page 9

CHILD’S DEATH IN RESERVOIR

VERDICT RETURNED BY CORONER INQUESTS CONCLUDED YESTERDAY A verdict that Peter Reginald PrangnelL aged five, was acidentally drowned when he fell into a disused reservoir on a property at Moncks Spur, Redcliffs, was returned by the Coroner (Mr F. F. Reid, S.M.), when the inquest into the boy’s death was completed yesterday. Allan Gordon Williams, a traveller, said that on January 9, about 3.35 p.m., his small son came running to the house. He said that Peter was drowning and that he had seen him going into the water. The witness said he went up to the reservoir, on the property of Mrs F. Truscott, Sen. He saw a child’s handkerchief floating on the water. He could not find the child with a short-handled rake, so he went for assistance. When he returned Mr Truscott had removed the body. Artificial respiration was applied, but to no avail His son later said that Peter Prangnell climbed on top of the reservoir to catch a cat and the manhole had collapsed under him. Dr. L. R. Chapman, of Redcliffs, who was called to attend to the boy, said that, in his opinion, death was caused by accidental drowning. Motor-cyclist’s Death Sitting as Qoroner, Mr E. B. E. Taylor found that George Henry Gardner died on January 18, the cause of death being multiple cerebral injuries suffered when the motor-cycle he was riding was involved in a collision with a car with trailer attached, at the intersection of Kilmore street and Manchester street. Mrs Barbara Mary Peters, said that about 7.30 a.m. on January 18 she saw an old-model car with a trailer attached going slowly over the intersection. The car had already crossed the intersection when she saw a motor-cyclist coming up fast on the left of the car. The motor-cyclist struck the trailer. William Donald Gold said he was the driver of the car. The car was across the intersection but the trailer was still on it when he heard a squeal of brakes. Looking back he saw a motor-cyclist was going to hit the trailer. He stopped the car immediately. He crossed the intersection about 12 miles an hour. Dr. A. L. Haslam appeared for the relatives of Gardner, Mr R. S. D. Twyneham for the insurers of the trailer, and Mr H. S. Thomas for Goid. - / , Suicide A verdict was returned that Louisa Jean George, aged fi4, committed suicide on February 7, the cause of death being asphyxia by drowning. Death in Swimming Pool "I have inspected the pool at the motor camp. It is fenced as efficiently as it could be. There are two ornamental pools, also, in close proximity to the pool. I don’t think any more practical steps can be taken to make the pool any safer. It is one of the normal hazards that fiave to be accepted by evefy one,” said the Coroner, when returning his verdict on the death of Heather Ann McAlister, aged two and a half years. His evidence, in accordance with medical e ’ ldcaa ® given, was that the child s death was caused by asphyxia, a result of accidental drowning when she fell into the swimming pool at the Pages road motor camp on February 3. Evidence was given by S. G. McAlister that his daughter disappeared about 5 pm. on February 3. A search was made, and her body was recovered from the swimming pool.